New Zealand win fifth India T20

HAMILTON, NOV 1: Tim Seifert narrowly missed a maiden international century but did enough to steer New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over India in the fifth and final T20 on Sunday.

Opener Seifert found some form with the bat, blasting 93 off 50 balls as the home side eased to 195-3 off 18 overs, after Adam Milne had earlier taken 4-19 to restrict the target to 192.

The result wasn't enough for New Zealand to salvage the series, which the tourists won 3-2 after winning the first three games.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner lamented his team's failure to win either of the first two matches, which were both tight contests in Christchurch, before finding form late in the series.

"I think those small moments in the first couple of games let us down," said Santner, referring primarily to fielding mistakes, including some important dropped catches.

"We probably could have won those games, or should have, and then the series would have looked a lot different.

"But from a cricketing point of view, there was a lot of really good stuff from our team."

Seifert had scored just 36 runs across the first four matches but the big-hitting right-hander found his touch at Seddon Park, swinging the game in New Zealand's favour by blasting 11 fours and five sixes.

He looked devastated when he played on to Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 16th over, having posted an 18th half-century before failing once again to reach three figures.

Glenn Phillips finished on 65 not out to complete an exceptional series with the bat, which included 107 when New Zealand won game four in Auckland on Friday.�"AFP